Lighted letter.



No. 769,457. PATENTED SEPT. 6, 1904. A. AUZERIU. LIGHTED LETTER.

APPLICATION nun DEO.11, 1902. N0 MODEL.

l/VVE/VTOH a QJMJ ATTORNEY WMMwrll/ Patented September 6, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT EEieE.

AGNES AUZERIC, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

LIGHTED LETTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Pa 769,457, dated September 6,1904.

Application filed December 11, 1902. Serial No. 134,844. (No model.)

To all who/1t it 717,111] concern:

Be it known that I, AGNES ARMENTIER AU- ZERIC, a citizen of the Republicof France, and a resident of 12 Boulevard San Martin, in the city ofParis, Prefecture of the Seine, Republic of France, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Lighted Letters, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to illuminating devices, and especially to thosedevices where the illuminant is contained within the sign or symbolitself.

The objects of my invention are to make the illumination of the lettereven and general, to cheapen the cost of construction and operation, toreduce the number of lighting elements for each sign or symbol, and tosupply a device which can be conveniently and clearly seen by day aswell as by night.

I attain these objects by the device illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings and described hereinafter.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the respectiveviews.

Figure 1 is a front View of the invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of thesame. Fig. 3 is a plan view. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line&4: of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a front view of the device with the letter inopen position. Fig. 6 is a plan view of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a section onthe line 9 looking toward the upper part of the figure with a part ofthe oblique limb in elevation as in Fig. 4.

Referring to the tigures,u is the body of the symbol or letter, which ismade of translucent material and preferably raised or convex, ashereinafter described.

Y) represents the hinges which secure the cover of the device carryingthe letter or any symbol to the main body of the device 0.

0 is the main portion of the device containing the illuminating elementshereinafter mentioned.

(Z represents those portions of the front of the device which areopaque.

e is the locking device to hold the parts together.

f represents the illuminants or one of them, as an incandescent lamp,fixed to the back of the box or elsewhere and within the same.

By my invention 1 am enabled to secure the advantage of a letter orsymbol clearly distinguishable by day, and, secondly, distinguishablefrom a point not necessarily directly in front, which is a considerableadvantange. The illuminating elements themselves are protected frominjury, and I am enabled to secure a sufficient and even illuminationwith a very few elements.

The invention comprises a box 0, having a front portion hinged theretoat 7) and carrying the letter or other symbol, which is made oftranslucent material. The said front of the box has opaque orlight-obstructing portions (Z, which fill in the space between the limbsof the letter. In effect, the device consists of a two-part box in thefront of which is a translucent symbol, that part of the front notconstituting the symbol being opaque or non-light transmitting. IV herethe translucent material constituting the symbol is separate from therest of the frontand is inserted in openings therein, as at a, it may beheld by its edges fitting in a groove (1 of a rim a, forming a part ofthe front.

It will be seen that the box has a free interior for the free diffusionof the light to all parts of the letter. This light may be furnished byan incandescent electric lamp f, fixed to the back of the box orelsewhere and within said box, or by any other form or kind or source oflight, as gas, oil, or otherwise. The translucent material a projectsfrom the front part of the box, and it is preferably of convex form intransverse section. By reason of this the letter stands out in reliefand may be readily seen and distinguished as the observer approaches thesign from one side. The portion a forming the translucent letter may beof different material from the rest of the front of the box, or theportions between the limbs of the letters may be painted or otherwiserendered opaque or obstructive to the passage of light, and the letterwill answer as a sign or part thereof in the clay-time as well as bynight.

I may place my light or lights at any part within the box or receptacle,since the latter is unobstructed, and the light will be visible 7 byreflection and diffusion, lighting up all parts of the letter. It shouldbe noted that separate pieces of opaque material may be inserted betweenthe limbs of the letters and secured thereto, if desired.

By my invention one light will answer the purpose of each letter-box, asthe said box is entirely free for the difiusion of the light-rays to allparts of the letter, and it is not necessary to employ a plurality oflamps distributed over different parts of the letter. The two parts ofthe box may be secured together by the pivoted bolt and nut, as at e.

I do not limit myself to any particular manner of securing the opaqueportions cl or of rendering portions of the front opaque or any specialmaterials, proportions, or means of illuminating.

The box may be made to conform partially to the outline of theletter-as, for instance, the drawings show a box having its one edgeindented to conform to the shape of the letter k.

By convex I do not limit myself to a curvilinear section, but includeany projecting symbol, whether having straight or curved outlines incross-section.

What I do claim, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of a frame having one or more grooves therein, and atranslucent body shaped to form a symbol and having its edges retainedin said groove or grooves.

2. The combination with a receptacle, of a cover therefor comprising aframe having one or more grooves therein, and a translucent body shapedto form a symbol and having its edges retained in said groove orgrooves.

3. The combination of a frame having one or more grooves therein, and atranslucent body shaped to form a symbol and having its edges retainedin said groove or grooves, and opaque filling-pieces fitted between andsupported by the limbs of said body and forming an opaque field for saidsymbol.

l. The combination of a frame having one or more grooves therein, and aconvex translucent body shaped to form a symbol and having its edgesretained in said groove or grooves, substantially as described.

5. A receptacle having outwardly-opening grooves in one of its faces,and a convex symbol the edges of which lie within the grooves,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

AGNES AUZERIC.

In presence of VICTOR Gm ivorr, MARTIAL AUTEREL.

